Forest: good transparency, unprecedented PS-PTB-Ecolo coalition

An unprecedented left-wing coalition

Forest has approximately 56,000 inhabitants and is marked by the formation of an unprecedented coalition in Brussels: PS-PTB-Ecolo. The MR-DéFI list, which came first with 10 seats, was excluded from power. Charles Spapens (PS) is mayor.

Transparency: 5 out of 6 criteria

Forest achieves a good score. The budget and council minutes (archived PDFs) are published online, the council is broadcast via livestream on YouTube, the mandate registry is accessible, and the municipality has a Forest Citizen Council facilitated by Dreamocracy. No dedicated Open Data portal.

Citizen participation: Forest Citizen Council

Forest established a Forest Citizen Council with the help of Dreamocracy, allowing residents to participate directly in municipal decisions. A citizen initiative right with public consultation completes the framework.

Audi Forest site: reconversion underway

The former Audi plant site (54 hectares) is the subject of a major reconversion project. The regional government approved the creation of an urban free zone to attract investors. Heylen Warehouses has been selected for the site's logistics management. On the social side, 49% of former workers have been reclassified. The municipal budget reflects this challenge: revenues of EUR 160M against expenditures of EUR 154M.

Union Saint-Gilloise stadium at Bempt: favourable opinion, Forest abstains (30 June 2026)

Following a public inquiry held from 13 May to 9 June 2026, the concertation commission issued a favourable opinion with numerous conditions (mobility, parking, noise, water management, biodiversity, safety) on 30 June 2026 for the new Union Saint-Gilloise stadium project at Bempt (15,881 seats). The municipality of Forest abstained in the vote, citing flood risks, the impact on mobility, nuisance for local residents, and the need to relocate municipal sports facilities; it is demanding regional budget commitments in return. No permit has yet been issued.

Waste collection crisis (May 2026)

In early May 2026, several Forest neighbourhoods (including the area around the stadium, Place Saint-Denis, the border with Saint-Gilles, then Saint-Antoine, Pont de Luttre and Bempt) did not have their waste collection rounds carried out, due to a regional hiring freeze at Bruxelles-Propreté. The alderman for Cleanliness, Simon De Beer (PTB), called for retired staff to be allowed to be replaced.

Sources: L'Avenir, DH (6 July 2026, stadium); RTBF (13 May 2026, public inquiry); RTBF, DH (7 May 2026, waste collection).

Jupiter park reopens and Duden park works begin (June-August 2026)

Jupiter park, about 2.6 hectares between Duden park and the Park of Forest, reopened its paths on 8 June 2026, after works begun in September 2025: new paths, restored panoramic viewpoint, new leisure and sports area, renovated sports pitch and swales for water retention. The new play equipment, including a climbing wall, is expected in September 2026, with additional planting in the autumn.

Works in Duden park began on 3 August 2026 for one year, in six phases: paths, drainage and green areas. Rainwater management is improved with permeable surfaces, new swales and retention basins. The park remains accessible throughout the works, except for the zone under construction. The surroundings of Villa Mosselman and Duden castle are being redesigned.

Beliris is investing 5.5 million euros in both parks, in collaboration with the municipality of Forest and Brussels Environment.

Source: BRUZZ (2 August 2026). Confidence: unconfirmed.